Stock futures moved higher on Monday as investors looked ahead to a slew of big-name earnings reports and inflation data expected in the coming days as well as the prospect that the ongoing U.S. government shutdown would end. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 142 points, or 0.3%. S&P futures gained 0.5%, along with Nasdaq-100 futures. “I think the Schumer shutdown is likely to end sometime this week,” White House Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett told CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” which gave a boost to stock futures before the open. Hassett added that he believes “moderate” Democrats would come together this week to strike a deal. The director of the National Economic Council also said that the White House was prepared to take stronger measures to force an end to the stoppage, which entered Day 20 Monday, if there’s no deal this week. Also helping sentiment to start the week was a report from The Wall Street Journal that said President Donald Trump in recent weeks has exempted dozens of products from reciprocal tariffs. The report added the administration was considering exempting hundreds more goods, reflecting an increasingly shared sentiment among administration officials that the U.S. should lower duties from some goods that are not domestically produced. Stocks are coming off a volatile trading week, ultimately closing higher despite flaring tensions between the U.S. and China, a sell-off sparked by regional bank losses and declines in a few high-flying artificial intelligence names. A strong start to the third-quarter earnings season appears to be lifting sentiment, alongside investors’ anticipation of another quarter percentage point rate cut at the Federal Reserve’s late October meeting. The three major U.S. indexes edged higher on Friday after Trump appeared optimistic on a potential trade deal with China ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month in South Korea. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said Friday that he thinks “things have de-escalated” with China and that he will likely be meeting with counterpart Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in the coming week. These comments suggested to traders that Trump’s threat of an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports beginning Nov. 1 may not happen. The Cboe Volatility Index had jumped to a high above 28 at one point on Friday before easing below 21 as stocks moved higher. On Monday, the Vix traded around 20. “In spite of [Friday’s] modest rebound in U.S. equities, risk-assets are reflecting heightened geopolitical uncertainty — particularly regarding U.S./China relations,” Katie Nixon, chief investment officer at Northern Trust, said in a note to clients. Nixon added that “the dispute presents significant economic risks to both sides, so the stakes are high to reach some sort of a palatable compromise.” Investors last week also attempted to move past concerns of credit risks that had caused a broader rout on Thursday. The market panicked after Zions and Western Alliance disclosed issues tied to bad loans, leading shares of several financial heavyweights and regional banks to swing lower before they rebounded on Friday. Separately, investors continue to monitor the U.S. government shutdown, which is entering its fourth week as top Democrats and Republicans remain locked in a dispute over federal health-care subsidies. This week, several large companies are expected to report quarterly results. Netflix, Coca-Cola, Tesla and Intel are among the names on deck. The September consumer price index is also set for release on Friday and is expected to show inflation remains hot. Traders will be paying special attention to the report, given the ongoing data blackout caused by the shutdown. “Investors seem non-plussed so far, but many economists are raising concerns that a prolonged shutdown may impact quarterly GDP growth,” Nixon said. “Most acknowledge, however, that this would represent a temporary slowdown that would likely be followed by a catch-up period.” U.S. Treasury yields were relatively unchanged on Monday as investors weighed the state of the U.S. economy and the government shutdown entered its fourth week. The 10-year Treasury yield was less than a basis point lower at 4.001%. The 2-year Treasury note yield was little changed at 3.464%. The 30-year bond yield fell more than a basis point to 4.592%. Asia-Pacific markets were in the green on Monday as investors parsed the latest slew of economic data out of China. The Asian giant also kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged, in line with expectations, with the one-year loan prime rate at 3%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was up over 2.52%, while the mainland’s CSI 300 rose 0.53% to 4,538.22. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 3.37% to close at a fresh record high of 49,185.5, while the Topix added 2.46% to end the trading day at 3,248.45 after the country’s Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Restoration Party effectively reached an agreement to form a coalition government, NHK reported citing sources. South Korea’s Kospi added 1.76% to close at 3,814.69 after hitting a record high for the third straight day last Friday, while the small-cap Kosdaq climbed 1.89% to end the trading day at 875.77. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.41% to close at 9,031.9. Oil prices dipped on Monday, pressured by worries over a global glut as U.S.-China trade tensions added to concerns about an economic slowdown and weaker energy demand. Brent crude futures were down 18 cents, or 0.3%, at $61.11 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures fell 17 cents, or 0.3%, to $57.37. Oil traders’ concerns have shifted from under-supply to over-supply, the futures contract structure of the global benchmark Brent showed. Gold prices inched higher on Monday after a record rally, supported by expectations of more U.S. rate cuts and safe-haven demand linked to the government shutdown in Washington, while investors awaited cues from upcoming U.S.-China trade talks. Spot gold was up 0.3% at $4,259.84 per ounce. U.S. gold futures for December delivery climbed 1.5% to $4,275 per ounce. Spot silver rose 0.5% to $52.12, recovering slightly after falling 4.4% on Friday after hitting a record high of $54.47 earlier that day. “We’re holding well above $4,000 in gold and $50 in silver, and as long as we do that I do not expect any major amount of long liquidation coming into the market,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, adding that gold is still very bullish.